Steering and propelling mechanism for boats.



110.845.937. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. W. H. PAHRNEY.

v STEERING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

4 f 1 m iim K W I No. 845,937. PATENTBD MAR. 5, 1907.

W. H. FAHRNEY. STEERING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM EOE BOATS.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT.29,1906.

z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIHIWI 6% MW I I I 6 v I I Ii I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEERING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR BOATS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed September 29, 1906. Serial No. 336,768.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY FAHRNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering and Propelling Mechanism. for Boats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

I This invention relates to improvements in steering and I repelling mechanism for boats and the lil fe, and more particularly to flat-bottom boats; and the object of the same is to provide an improved form of p1opolling means which is also adapted to steer or guide the boat.

A further object is to provide an improved form of laterally-shiftable and vertically-adjustable propelling mechanism.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism for this purpose which will be simple and cheap in construction, easy to manipulate, and effective in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear the inven ion consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the various parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating. an exemplification of the invent-ion, and in which- Figure 1 is a broken top plan view of a boat constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the stern of the boat with the propolling mechanism removed. Fig. 4 is a detail of a simple form of rev ersing-clutch gear for the propeller. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the turn-table or pr opener-supporting frame. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the step for the lower end of the pivot or frame mast. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the step and a portion of the pivot or mast in position.

In the drawings the same reference-numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

, In this exemplification of the invention the numeral 10 designates generally the hull of a boat, the deck of which is cut away adjacent the stern to form a recessed portion for the reception of a turn-table, to be heretends for some distance above the deck and is connected by spaced crosses, pieces, or beams 15. Secured also to and rising from the deck in front of the cut-away portion and at a point preferably intermediate the uprights or standards 14 is a similar upright or standard 16. Suitable bracing rods or members 17 extend from the upper extremity of the support or standard 16 to the supports or standards 14, and a similarrod or member 18 also extends from the'upper extremity thereof to a bearing 19, which latter is secured and supported between the spaced pieces or beams 15, preferably at a central point, intermediate the uprights or standards 14 and directly over a bearing 20 in the base or bottom 11, under which latter is secured a step 21. Suitable guy-rods or braces 22 are socured by one end to the tops of the supports or standards 14 and by their other ends to any support, preferably the deck, and, if desired, turnbuckles 23 for adjusting the tension of these rods or braces may be provided.

A turn-table, 24, preferably having a straight or fiat edge 25, is secured to and intermediate to the ends of a mast or support 26, preferably in such a position that the latter will be centrally located and adjacent the straight edge 25. The extremities of this mast or support 26 are preferably reduced, as at 27, to form trunnions, and the table 24 may be braced by suitable strengthening ribs or members 28, which are secured to the lower face thereof and radiate from the mast or standard 26 toward and terminate adjacent the periphery of the table. Additional strengthening means may be pro vided in the form of guy-rods or braces 29, one end of which are secured preferably to the extremity of the strengthening ribs or members 28 adjacent the periphery of the table 24 and the other ends to a suitable member or collar 30, supported by the mast 26 below the table and remote from the truneach end with a sprocket-wheel 47.

nion thereon, and, if desired, these rods or braces may also be provided with turnbuckles 31.

Arms or beams 32 are secured by one end to the mast or support 26 adjacent the upper end of the latter and extend over the table 24. These arms or beams are held in position by means of suitable brace or guy-rods 33, one end of which latter engage the free end thereof, and the other ends are secured to a suitable flange or collar 34, supported by the mast above the arms or beams and preferably adjacent the upper trunnion. 'lhese rods or braces 33 may also be provided with suitable turnbuckles 35, if desired. Each of the arms or beams 32 is preferably arranged above one of the braces or strengthening member 28 and terminate in line with the periphery of the table 24. Arranged between the free ends of the arms or beams 32 and the outer ends of its corresponding brace or strengthening member 28 and resting upon the table 24 adjacent the periphery thereof are supports or uprights 36.

Projecting forward from the mast or standard 26 and beyond the straight or fiat edge 25, and preferably in the same plane as the arms or beams 32, is a similar arm or beam 37, the free end of which may be supported by a brace or guy-rod 38, which latter is secured by one end to the arm and by the other end to the flange or collar 34.

The turn-table 24, with its associated structure, is placed in the recessed or cutaway portionin the stern, with the top thereof substantially flush with the top of the deck and with the respective trunnions 27 mounted in the bearing 19 and the step 21. In this position the table 24 is adapted to turn freely about the pivot thus formed. The rear of the out-away portion in the deck being open will permit of such movement. When the table is in its normal position, the straight or flat edge will be flush with the extremity of the stern of the boat. Supported by the table 24 are any suitable number of bearings 39, in which is journaled a suitable drivingshaft 40. Any form of shaft may be pro vided for this purpose; but a simple and eflicient form comprises a single shaft extending entirely across the table 24 adjacent the flat or straight edge 25. Pivotally supported by one end to this shaft are spaced arms 42, which extend for some distance beyond the stern of the boat. These arms are held spaced by a suitable spacing member 43 and are strengthened by suitable bracing members 44 45. Rotatably supported by and between the free ends of the spaced arms 42 is a propeller 46, preferably in the form of a paddle-wheel, which is provided adjacent Passing around these sprocket-wheels are chains or belts 48, which also respectively surround suitable sprocket-wheels 49 on the shaft 40.

A suitable form of reversing mechanism may be employed for driving the propeller in the desired direction. A simple and efficientform comprises gearing 50, having clutchfaces 51, adapted LO engage suitable clutch members 52 on the shalt 40. Motion is transmitted to the shaft by means of a pinion 53, rotated by a suitable motor 54, supported by the table 24. The reversinggear may be shifted by any suitable lever to move either one of the gears into engagement with the pinion 53 and the respective clutch member 52 to drive the propellerwheel 46 in the desired direction to advance or back the boat. With this arrangement it will be seen that the propeller is pivotally supported by the arms 42 some distance behind the stern of the boat and from the turn-table 24.

The propeller may be adjusted vertically about its point of pivotal support in any desired or suitable manner in order to regulate its dip into the water. A simple and efficient means for accomplishing this end comprises a pulley 55, supported by the arm 37, and a similar pulley 56, secured to the spacingmember 43. A suitable rope or cable 57 is secured by one end in any desired manner to the pulley 55 or its support and passes around the pulley 56 and back over the pulley 55. The free end of this rope or cable may be secured in any desired manner, such as by means of a cleat or clamp 58, secured to any suitable support. By drawing upon the free end of the rope or cable the propellerwheel will be raised or elevated, and by aying out the same the propeller may be ibwered and is held in its adjusted position by securing the free end of the rope or cable.

The table 24 may be rotated about its pivot to laterally shift the propeller-wheel 46 to guide or steer the boat in any desired manner, preferably by means of a suitable cable or chain '59. (Represented in dotted line in Fig. 1.) This chain or cable 59 may be secured intermediate its ends in any desired manner to the turn-table 24 and passed over suitable pulleys or guides 60 on each side of the boat to a steering or tiller wheel 61, which latter may be located at any convenient point, preferably adjacent the bow of the boat. If desired, separate chains or cables may be employed instead of a continuous one.

When the steering or tiller wheel is rotated in one direction, one of the ends of the cables or chains will be wound up and the other paid out, which will rotate the turn-table 24 and shift the propeller 46 to the desired position to guide or steer the boat.

In order that the invention might be fully understood, the details of an embodiment ghereof have been thus specifically described;

What I claim is- In a device of the class described the combination of a turn-table, comprising a stand and projecting beyond the stra ght edge of the platform, and hoisting mechanism se- 15 cured to the said arm and the propeller-frame for varying the position of the latter With respect to the platform.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 20 two subscribing Witnesses, on this 25th day of September, A. D. 1906.

WILLIAM HENRY FAHRNEY. Witnesses:

I. N. RIoE, JOHN HASLEY. 

